Sounds like a camera obscura to me: I think they were invented well before
1894. There is a working one in Edinburgh.
Jason
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dietmar Kammerer" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2006 2:15 PM
Subject: visual surveillance in early fiction
> dear all,
>
> the following is an excerpt from "The Land of the Changing Sun", a
> science-fiction underwater novel by William N. Harben, written in 1894.
> It's an early example of a fictional visual surveillance technology used
> by the police, including the ability to zoom, automatic recognition of
> deviance and even automatic apprehension of offenders. (i.e., it's clearly
> more than simply "direct visual surveillance", which of course is
> centuries old)
>
> Is anyone aware of earlier examples in literature? Any suggestions are
> welcome.
>
> With best regards,
> Dietmar
>
>
> ... [The king] waved his hand and dismissed a number of courtiers who were
> waiting to be called, and rose from the throne and led the two captives
> into a large apartment adjoining the throne-room. Here they found six men
> in blue uniforms looking into a large circular mirror on a table. They all
> bowed and moved aside as the king approached.
>
> "These men are the municipal police," explained the king, resting his hand
> on the gold frame of the glass; "they are watching the city." And when the
> strangers drew nearer they were surprised to see reflected, in the deeply
> concave glass, the entire city in miniature; its streets, parks, public
> buildings, and moving populace. And what seemed to be the most remarkable
> feature of the invention was, that the instant the eye rested on any
> particular portion of the whole that part was at once magnified so that
> every detail of it was clearly observable.
>
> "This is an improvement on your police system," continued the king. "No
> sooner does anything go wrong than a red signal is given on the spot of
> the trouble and the attention of these officers is immediately called to
> it. A flying machine is sent out and the offender is brought to the police
> station; but trouble of any nature rarely occurs, and the duties of our
> police are merely nominal; my people live in thorough harmony. Now, come
> with me and I will give you an idea of the surrounding country."
>
> --
> [Dietmar Kammerer]
> [Weserstrasse 47]
> [10247 Berlin]
> [tel 030.29003536]
> [mob 0179.5306683]
>
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